Tulare County irrigation districts try to ‘right the ship’ toward groundwater sustainability. But will it be enough?
Three Tulare County irrigation districts that recently found themselves in the state’s crosshairs over groundwater extractions and subsidence are scrambling to show officials they are getting on the right side of “sustainability.” The boards of the Terra Bella, Porterville and Saucelito irrigation districts each approved resolutions seeking to cut back the amount of groundwater farmers can pump within their boundaries. … But some say the action may be too little, too late. Groundwater allocations are actually doled out by the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), which overlays all three districts. So, technically, the districts’ groundwater preferences are requests to the Eastern Tule GSA, which must vote separately on any future groundwater allocations.
Related articles:
- Santa Rosa Press-Democrat: Napa County supervisors favor fee on groundwater users to support sustainability
- Napa Valley Register: Napa County supervisors explore groundwater valley pumping fee
